KINZ Notting Hill Gate: London’s Best New Restaurant Opening This Season

New restaurants open in London every week. Few make me want to recommend them quite as enthusiastically as KINZ.

KINZ, which quietly opened its doors just over a week ago in Notting Hill Gate, is the latest addition to London’s Lebanese restaurant options — and, in my view, one of the capital’s most impressive new openings this season.

The restaurant takes its name from the Arabic word Kanz, meaning “treasure”, and the choice feels particularly apt. Set within a former Lloyds Bank building designed in the 1930s by architect Sir Edward Maufe, KINZ has transformed a historic space into a contemporary Lebanese dining destination while preserving much of its original character. The triple-height dining room is flooded with natural light, creating a remarkable sense of space, while one of the building’s most distinctive features — the original bank vault — has been reimagined as an intimate wine room where guests can also dine.

A Space That Balances Heritage and Warmth

From the moment you enter, it’s clear that KINZ is aiming for more than simply serving good food. A retail-style deli space will soon showcase Lebanese produce, from house-made preserves and spices to bottles and ingredients designed for guests to take a piece of the experience home. It wasn’t yet fully operational when I visited, but it’s easy to see how it will extend the story beyond the restaurant itself.

The interiors, designed by FARE INC, combine Mediterranean warmth with subtle references to Lebanese heritage. Natural light pours through the building’s impressive original large windows, illuminating the triple-height dining room, while curved arches, textured materials and earthy tones create an environment that feels elegant.

Speaking with co-founder Jad Lahoud, I learned that the design was inspired by the feeling of a Lebanese mountain home. That intention comes through. There is a softness and airiness to the space that encourages guests to settle in rather than rush through a meal.

Throughout the restaurant, large-format photography by Firas El Hallak can be found dotted across the walls — portraits of older Lebanese men and women that feel deeply familiar, like people you might recognise from your own family. Jad told me his favourite is the image behind the bar of an older man on his phone; it reminds him of his uncle.

The Story Behind KINZ

KINZ is co-founded by Jad Lahoud, Karim Lahoud and Rasha Khouri Bruzzo, and is rooted in a story shaped by heritage, family and lived experience.

As Jad explains:

“Growing up in London, Karim and I were surrounded by a strong Lebanese community and the food that defines it. With parents who were both chefs, those flavours shaped how we eat and cook today. KINZ is our way of bringing the spirit of Lebanon to London, not just through the food, but through the atmosphere, the design and every considered detail.”

For Rasha Khouri Bruzzo, the project is equally personal:

“We’re incredibly excited to bring KINZ to life in Notting Hill Gate. The project is rooted in the food and traditions I grew up with — the small details, rituals and flavours that are passed down at home rather than written down. KINZ takes its name from the Arabic word for ‘treasure’ and is our tribute to those treasures: cherished recipes, generous cooking and the spirit of Lebanese food as it’s meant to be shared today. It’s a place designed to feel as natural for everyday visits as it does for long, lingering meals.”

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The Food: Generous, Shareable and Rooted in Tradition

The dishes we selected recommended to us, showcased the breadth of the menu.

Highlights from the table included:

Fattet Aubergine

Baked aubergine layered with walnuts, onions and pine nuts in a rich tomato sauce, finished with yoghurt and crisp pitta. Comforting and deeply flavourful.

Spinach Fatayer

Delicate pastries filled with spinach, onion and lemon that disappeared from the table almost immediately.

Samke Harra

Cod fillets paired with a walnut and tahini sauce that brought both richness and freshness.

Meat Kibbeh

Bulgur shells filled with spiced lamb and beef, onions and pine nuts, delivering the satisfying depth that Lebanese cuisine does so well.

Fattoush

Crisp lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mint and radish scattered with sumac and toasted pitta crisps. Bright, refreshing and an ideal counterpoint to the richer dishes.

What I particularly appreciated was the balance across the menu. There are strong options for meat lovers, seafood enthusiasts and vegetarians alike, making it easy to share and explore. I was also told that many of the recipes come directly from the founders’ family traditions, with Jad’s mother still playing a role in quality control in the kitchen amongst the chefs — a detail that feels entirely believable once you taste the food.

A Celebration of Lebanese Wine

One of the restaurant’s most distinctive features is its wine selection. Aside from the Champagne selection, the list focuses heavily on Lebanese producers, offering diners a rare opportunity to explore the country’s winemaking heritage.

We began with the Château Héritage Blanc de Blancs 2024, a fresh, approachable white wine made from French grape varieties grown in Lebanon. After commenting on its French-inspired name, our server suggested a more locally rooted alternative: Château Oumsiyat Obeidy, made from the indigenous Obeidy grape variety closely associated with Lebanon’s wine and arak traditions.

The latter was the standout for me — distinctive, refreshing and a perfect match for the mezze-style dishes, while my guest preferred our first serving.

Hospitality That Feels Genuine

Excellent interiors and food can attract attention, but it’s also how you’re made to feel that determines whether guests return. On that front, KINZ impressed throughout the visit.

Gabriella greeted us warmly on arrival, while Danielle struck the right balance between attentiveness and relaxed service, helping to create the feeling that we were being welcomed into a home rather than simply seated in a restaurant.

It is this sense of generosity and care that elevates KINZ beyond a good meal and into a memorable dining experience.

Why KINZ Stands Out

London already has several excellent Lebanese restaurants. What sets KINZ apart is the combination of thoughtful design, warm hospitality, and a menu rooted in tradition.

The restaurant feels equally suited to a leisurely lunch, a client meeting, a celebratory dinner or a date night tucked away inside the former bank vault, now one of London’s more unique wine room dining experiences.

For a restaurant only a week into its journey, KINZ already feels remarkably assured. Few new openings have impressed me as much this season.

If my visit is any indication, this particular treasure won’t remain hidden for very long.

KINZ

Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 8am – 11pm | Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 11pm
Website: www.kinzrestaurant.com
Address: 50 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JD
Instagram: @kinzrestaurant

Written by Kai Lutterodt @the.soho.girl | Images courtesy of KINZ

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